Brosky might be called the Voice of the Valley, our own Springsteen, who sings about his life and reflects...

]]>Wed, 7 Dec 2016 05:50:00 PSTREVIEW: Intoxicating vocal artistry from Roomful of Teeth at Bach Choir gala at Moravian College's Foy HallSteve Siegelhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-review-intoxicating-vocal-artistry-from-roomful-of-teeth-20161120-story.html
The wonderful thing about the great art of song is that the message can be delivered even when we don't understand the words. Whatever the emotion, we’re sure to get it, whether sung in Italian, English, German, or whatever.

But what if there are no words? Will we still get it?

The answer turns...

]]>Sun, 20 Nov 2016 13:30:00 PSTTrans-Siberian Orchestra promises spectacular holiday kickoff at Allentown's PPL CenterJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-trans-siberian-orchesta-ppl-center-allentown-20161116-story.html
For most performers, recording Christmas music comes deep in a career, after they have established themselves with original music.

For Trans-Siberian Orchestra, founded by producer/composer/lyricist Paul O'Neill, Christmas came first.

Not only was the group's 1996 debut album called "Christmas...

]]>Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:33:00 PSTREVIEW: Goo Goo Dolls at Sands Bethlehem Event Center reclaim past, forge futureJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-review-goo-goo-dolls-at-sands-bethlehem-event-center-reclaiming-past-forge-future-20161118-story.html
Most rock groups who started more than 30 years ago are either long gone or staying alive by trading on nostalgia.

Goo Goo Dolls has long avoided those trappings by evolving through its career from post-punkers to an adult-oriented rock band that has had more than two dozen Top 40 hits on various...

]]>Fri, 18 Nov 2016 07:43:00 PSTREVIEW: A Far Cry and David Krakauer mesmerizing as they explore spiritual power of music at Lafayette College's Williams CenterSteve Siegelhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-review-a-far-cry-and-david-krakauer-mesmerizing-as-they-explore-spiritual-power-of-music-20161118-story.html
There are many ways and many languages with which to reach for the divine. On Wednesday at Williams Center at Lafayette College in Easton, the string orchestra collective A Far Cry focused on three major faith traditions in a thoroughly engaging program exploring the spiritual power of music.

Joining...

]]>Fri, 18 Nov 2016 14:03:00 PSTEx-Stray Cat back at State Theatre for Christmashttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-gp-brian-setzer-state-theatre-easton-20161119-story.html
It's unusual that the leader of a punk-rock band from the early 1980s — especially a punk-abilly band — would still be making music and drawing crowds 35 years after it first hit. It's even more unusual that artist would be doing it with Christmas music.

But that's the story of three-time Grammy...

]]>Sat, 19 Nov 2016 11:00:02 PSTGrammy-winning composer Maria Schneider leads a big band in Bethlehem on FridayWilliam Gordonhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-maria-schneider-pa-jazz-collective-moravian-college-20161117-story.html
Roughly 20 years ago, Grammy-winning jazz composer and conductor Maria Schneider, 55, started working with a college band in Seattle — or so she thought.

"When I got out there it became evident it was a high school group, which really had me worried," says Schneider from her home on the Upper West...

In the 1960s, Kaukonen was a founding member of psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane, best known for its hits "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit." He also was...

]]>Sat, 10 Dec 2016 00:00:00 PSTMoody Blues singer Justin Hayward, '60s blue-eyed soul group The Box Tops, more announced for Musikfest CafeJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-moody-blues-singer-justin-hayward-60s-blue-eyed-soul-group-the-box-tops-more-announced-for-musikfest-20161209-story.html
The Moody Blues' lead singer, a music group that had a major role in the 1960s blue-eyed soul movement, and tributes to The Grateful Dead and John Denver have set performances at Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem, it was just announced.

The Moodies' singer Justin Hayward will return...

]]>Fri, 9 Dec 2016 09:51:00 PSTThe Piano Guys thrill at State Theatrehttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-the-piano-guys-thrill-at-state-theatre-20161209-story.html
The Piano Guys demonstrated their creativity with their thrilling and frequently eclectic music, mashing together classical and pop music, during an energetic and entertaining concert Thursday at State Theatre in Easton.

The crowd of more than 1,300 responded enthusiastically to the group that...

]]>Fri, 9 Dec 2016 05:41:00 PSTInterview: Jax of 'American Idol,' playing free Easton show, blazing new trail after health scareJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-interview-jax-of-american-idol-playing-free-easton-show-blazing-new-trail-after-health-scare-20161208-story.html
After bleached-blond girl-power singer Jax finished third on “American Idol” in 2015, it seemed the sheer force of her eventually would make her a star.

Shortly after the “Idol” summer tour, Jax seemed on her way to blazing her own trail, defiantly releasing a single, “La La Land,” last January...

]]>Thu, 8 Dec 2016 15:03:00 PSTInterview: Ted Nugent bassist Greg Smith of Bangor joins Wizards of Winter, coming to Easton's State TheatreJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-interview-ted-nugent-bassist-greg-smith-of-bangor-joins-wizards-of-winter-coming-to-easton-s-state-t-20161208-story.html
Greg Smith of Washington Township, Northampton County, who for a decade has been bassist for raucous rocker Ted Nugent, says he didn’t think it was odd when he was approached last year to play in Wizards of Winter, a Trans-Siberian Orchestra-like holiday-themed, orchestral rock group.

For one thing,...

]]>Thu, 8 Dec 2016 14:15:00 PSTSinger Jax, coming to Easton, blazing a new trail after 'American Idol,' health scareJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-jax-american-idol-easton-20161208-story.html
After bleached-blond girl-power singer Jax finished third on "American Idol" in 2015, it seemed the sheer force of her would eventually would make her a star.

Shortly after the "Idol" summer tour, Jax seemed on her way to blazing her own trail, defiantly releasing a single, "La La Land," last January...

]]>Thu, 8 Dec 2016 13:58:00 PSTIt's the 'Wizards of Winter' season for Bangor area's Greg SmithJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-wizards-of-winter-greg-smith-state-theatre-20161208-story.html
Greg Smith of Washington Township, Northampton County, who for a decade has been bassist for raucous rocker Ted Nugent, says he didn't think it was odd when he was approached last year to play in Wizards of Winter, a Trans-Siberian Orchestra-like holiday-themed, orchestral rock group.

For one thing,...

]]>Thu, 8 Dec 2016 13:38:00 PSTREVIEW: The guys -- Charlie Puth, Shawn Mendes, DNCE -- have it at Q102 Jingle Ball in PhiladelphiaJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-review-the-guys-charlie-puth-shawn-mendes-dnce-have-it-at-q102-jingle-ball-in-philadelphia-20161208-story.html
Girl group Fifth Harmony was the top-billed act at Wednesday’s radio station Q102 Jingle Ball at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. But if there was a vote on the best of the night’s nine performances in the near-four-hour show, the guys would have it.

And development was the key.

Charlie Puth,...

]]>Thu, 8 Dec 2016 13:20:00 PSTTop 5 Concerts of the Coming WeekJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-top-5-concerts-of-the-coming-week-20161208-story.html
Here are the Top 5 Concerts of the Coming Week: WZMP-FM's LET IT SNOW SHOW

The success The Chainsmokers had with its song “#Selfie” in 2014 — it went platinum — signaled the duo might be more than your average Dance/EDM DJs. Then came the singles “Roses,” a Top 10 hit, and “Don’t Let Me Down,”...

Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia; Neil Diamnond's 50th anniversary tour, Guns 'N Roses, Justin Bieber and Dead & Company are more than 40 new shows on which we have...

]]>Thu, 8 Dec 2016 05:50:00 PSTCountry singers Lee Brice, Justin Moore to pair up for show at Bethlehem's MusikfestJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-country-singers-lee-brice-justin-moore-to-pair-up-for-show-at-bethlehem-s-musikfest-20161208-story.html
Country singer Lee Brice, who has had four No. 1 songs and whose album "I Don't Dance" topped the country charts in 2014, will play a headline show at Bethlehem's Musikfest festival with Justin Moore, the 2014 Academy of Country Music New Artist of the Year who in August had his third consecutive...
]]>Thu, 8 Dec 2016 05:01:00 PSTClassical: The musical feast of Bach's Christmas OratorioSteve Siegelhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-classical-bach-choir-christmas-concert-bethlehem-1208-20161207-story.html
J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio is truly a rich feast, with generous helpings of the bright instrumentation one usually associates with Bach in his writing for joyous occasions. Completed in December, 1734, the ambitious work is actually a cycle of six cantatas composed for the six feast days across...
]]>Wed, 7 Dec 2016 14:23:00 PSTMusic, Santa and more at Martin Guitar's Holiday Open Househttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-gp-martin-guitar-holiday-open-house-20161207-story.html
Much of the joy of the holiday season is about music and tradition.

Nazareth's C.F. Martin & Co. is about both those things. Explore both 5-8 p.m. Dec. 14 during Martin Guitar's Holiday Open House at the visitors center and museum at the C.F. Martin factory at 510 Sycamore St.

The group, which bills itself as “The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Tribute Show,” will perform at 8 p.m. April 14.

Tickets, at $35-$55, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 at...

]]>Wed, 7 Dec 2016 07:00:00 PSTFlorida Georgia Line tickets at Allentown's PPL Center nearly sold outJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-florida-georgia-line-tickets-at-allentown-s-ppl-center-nearly-sold-out-20161207-story.html
If you planned to buy tickets to see top country music duo Florida Georgia Line at Allentown’s PPL Center at 7 p.m. March 16 but haven't yet, you may just have to go it alone.

That's because as of this morning, five days after tickets went on sale, there are only single seats to be gotten throughout...

]]>Wed, 7 Dec 2016 04:38:00 PSTAllman Brothers founding member completes lineup for Blast Furnace Blues FestivalJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-allman-brothers-founding-member-completes-lineup-for-blast-furnace-blues-festival-20161206-story.html
A founding member of The Allman Brothers and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will fill the final headline slot for the sixth Blast Furnace Blues Festival at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, it was just announced.

Butch Trucks and his Freight Train Band will perform at 8:30 p.m. March 25,...

]]>Tue, 6 Dec 2016 06:38:00 PSTBenefit set to help Lehigh Valley music favorite Scott Marshall -- even as he helps othersJohn J. Moserhttp://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-benefit-set-to-help-lehigh-valley-music-favorite-scott-marshall-even-as-he-helps-others-20161206-story.html
Lehigh Valley musical favorite Scott Marshall, who this fall had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his kidney, will be the focus of a benefit concert to help defray his medical costs.